Tungstene recognizes Photoshop

    At the end of May, a message passed on a number of European web resources, which so far has not really reached Runet. The blogs chuckled, twisted a finger at the temple, chatted about this, and went their separate ways.

    However, the development of Frenchman Roger Cozien (Roger Cozien), MD, forensic scientist and founder of the digital examination society Exo Makina, is of sufficient potential value to be discussed in more detail.

    Meet Tungstene or Tungsten. Without an “e” at the end in the English spelling is an antiphotoshop and “death to a gloss”, as some particularly impressive photo bloggers christened it.

    What is tungsten?


    What is Wolfram? According to the author, the program allows you to determine the digital correction of photos and images, that is, in plain language, Photoshop. It was developed by Roger, together with other researchers, commissioned by the French Ministry of Defense (Le ministère de la Défense Nationale).

    It is up to you to decide whether or not to be surprised by such a customer, I am of the opinion that the fact is interesting, but quite logical - the interests of the national defense require solving such tasks as identifying mounted photographs.

    Tungstene was introduced to the public at the May 26 National Assembly (l'Assemblée nationale, lower house of the French parliament). This is remarkable, especially since Petrikov did not seem to be behind the French.

    How it works


    Obviously not based on EXIFs. On the Exo Makina website there are several examples of the work of Tungsten, although dated, tentatively, by the end of 2009, when the development was not yet completed.

    Pictures are uploaded to habreffect.ru, links to the original pages are given.
    On each of the pages by links there is still clarification about the principles of operation of each algorithm.


    Cloning
    www.exomakina.fr/eXo_maKina/Clonage.html
    Summary: Identical pixels are detected . “Pasting” (Exogene) www.exomakina.fr/eXo_maKina/Exogene.html Summary: photomontage, “pasting” of new parts, advanced cloning. Retouching www.exomakina.fr/eXo_maKina/Mosaique.html











    Summary: contour deformation, tracking of endogenous changes (internal, without adding new elements). Editing www.exomakina.fr/eXo_maKina/Q2.html Summary: the fact of interference with the photograph (not necessarily related to semantic distortion) is determined. The site contains the following description of "Wolfram" (in French, I am not strong, used a translator): Wolfram contains a set of filters and functions that allow the operator to find inconsistencies and changes, which are divided into two main categories. First, the gaps in the statistics underlying the digital image. Secondly, contradictions in the laws of physics (scattering of light, rays, color distortion, etc.).













    (It is added that in the future there will be functions for determining electronic noise, brightness violations, etc. Apparently this is in the version that was presented to the Assembly, but this is my guess).

    What's next?


    And then - the practical implementation of the law on the restriction or prohibition of the use of "Photoshop", for example, in advertising shots, as has already been done in France and the UK. The experience of countries so “strong” in legislative initiatives is likely to be shared by the rest of the EU.

    To date, there have been no tools for the implementation of these laws, while the fine, for example, for using a processed photo without an appropriate explanation, in France is 37,500 euros.

    What conclusions will the magazines make for themselves? Not yet known. Tungsten, at least, can speed up this process.

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